News & Media

Beer Institute Files Comments with the FDA

May 11, 2013

The Beer Institute has been following the latest developments with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and analyzing its potential impact to the U.S. brewing industry. Action was required to amend the interpretation of this legislation to exempt hops and brewers’ spent grains from costly regulation under this new law.

The Beer Institute filed two comments with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The first comment , filed jointly with the Brewers Association, asked the FDA to add hops to the list of produce that is exempt from regulation under FSMA because hops are not consumed raw and are quite safe.

The American Malting Barley Association joined the BI in our second letter – asking the FDA to exempt brewers’ spent grain from FSMA regulation because they are safe and merely the byproduct of brewing. Regulation of brewers’ spent grain will cost the industry millions of dollars in annual compliance costs, millions of dollars in disposal costs, and many millions of dollars more in lost revenue without improving public health and safety.

To download our public comment related to the regulation of hops, please click here.

To download our public comment related to the regulation of brewers’ spent grains, please click here.

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The Beer Institute, established in 1986, is the national trade association for the brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. The Institute is committed to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook.